A Streetcar Conversation

In this short story, for the characters, I'm going to use a few names from the Social Security 2021 baby names list.

https://blog.ssa.gov/social-securitys-most-popular-baby-names-for-2021/

(Excuse me for being very sleep deprived, but I tried!)


Wrenley, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, just touched down from MSY airport in Kenner. He wanted his ride to his hotel room to be as cheap & as long as possible. He wanted to relax, get the feel of the city & go sightseeing. He was ready for that Jazz Fest. After he got off of the Causeway bus, he boarded the historic St. Charles streetcar at Claiborne & Carrollton. 

He made sure to sit as close to the streetcar operator, Oliver Lucas, as possible, so that he could ask him tons of questions. Oliver, a 40-year New Orleans RTA veteran, didn't mind the numerous questions. He loved the interactive engagement & was just as enthusiastic about answering all of Wrenley's questions. 

Likewise, Oliver was quite inquisitive about Wrenley's trombone. Oliver told Wrenley that he used to be part of a band, called the "5 Beignets", which was like a local New Orleans jazz spin on the music group, "The 5 Heartbeats". 

Colter, another New Orleans native, chimed in on the conversation & said that he used to play the tuba in the band when he was in the US Navy. It was Colter's idea to remake the "5 Beignets" jazz band. They put up a Craigslist ad for 2 more new members. 2 UNO foreign exchange students (who were dorm roommates), Evelyn & Vida were the first to respond to the ad. 

Colter didn't know how to take it, because the girls were young enough to be their granddaughters. They were college Juniors. They were from Brazil. Vida prided herself on being the female version of a 21st century Louis Satchmo Armstrong. They were DOWN WITH IT! 

Oliver was shocked at how the girls quickly pulled strings for the quintet to make arrangements for the group to get to perform for the next year's Jazz Fest. That was such a phenomenal performance! After that, the group went on to tour overseas & quickly become famous worldwide. 

THE END